Français
Español
English
Portuguese
The round slammed into his helmet with full force but failed to penetrate, sparing him from certain death.
By United with Israel Staff
Two remarkable survival stories are coming to light after the intense early Friday morning battle in the Syrian village of Beit Jann, where Israeli reservists came under heavy fire during a high-risk counterterror operation.
The raid, carried out by the 55th Reserve Brigade under Division 210, began shortly before 3 a.m. and targeted two brothers affiliated with the Islamist Jemaah Islamiya group. The suspects, involved in planting explosives and firing projectiles in the past, were arrested in their beds without resistance.
As the soldiers exited the house, terrorists opened fire from about 200 meters away, striking a military vehicle and wounding six reservists. Israeli forces returned fire, killing several attackers, while the injured troops were airlifted to Rambam and Sheba medical centers.
Amid the chaos, two extraordinary near-miracles occurred. In one case, a reservist was hit directly in the head by a terrorist’s bullet. The round slammed into his helmet with full force but failed to penetrate, sparing him from certain death. The soldier sustained moderate leg wounds from two additional bullets, but the shot aimed at his head was entirely stopped by his helmet.
Another soldier’s survival was even more dramatic. At Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, doctors revealed that a critically wounded reservist arrived with a bullet lodged inside his heart. The round had pierced his protective vest and entered his chest, causing massive internal bleeding. Cardiothoracic surgeons fought for hours to save him, opening his chest from both the side and center in an extremely delicate operation.
“After a rapid consultation, we unanimously decided to leave the bullet in place,” said Dr. Gil Bolotin, director of Rambam’s cardiac surgery department. “We succeeded in stabilizing him, and today he is already recovering and communicating with those around him. As we move forward, we will determine how to continue the treatment. We may need to operate again to remove the bullet from the heart, or we may choose to do so with a catheterization, and it is certainly possible that the bullet will remain where it is.”
These two stories stand out as powerful reminders of the dangers Israeli reservists face far beyond the country’s borders — and as undeniable testimonies to the divine protection that allows life to triumph against overwhelming odds.
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
